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A Flexi‐PEGDA Upconversion Implant for Wireless Brain Photodynamic Therapy
Author(s) -
Teh Daniel Boon Loong,
Bansal Akshaya,
Chai Chou,
Toh Tan Boon,
Tucker Robert Alan Jappy,
Gammad Gil Gerald Lasam,
Yeo Yanzhuang,
Lei Zhendong,
Zheng Xiang,
Yang Fengyuan,
Ho John S.,
Bolem Nagarjun,
Wu Bing Cheng,
Gnanasammandhan Muthu Kumar,
Hooi Lissa,
Dawe Gavin Stewart,
Libedinsky Camilo,
Ong WeiYi,
Halliwell Barry,
Chow Edward KaiHua,
Lim KahLeong,
Zhang Yong,
Kennedy Brian K.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.202001459
Subject(s) - materials science , photodynamic therapy , photon upconversion , ethylene glycol , biocompatible material , biomedical engineering , implant , photosensitizer , nanotechnology , optoelectronics , medicine , surgery , photochemistry , doping , chemistry , organic chemistry
Near‐infrared (NIR) activatable upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) enable wireless‐based phototherapies by converting deep‐tissue‐penetrating NIR to visible light. UCNPs are therefore ideal as wireless transducers for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of deep‐sited tumors. However, the retention of unsequestered UCNPs in tissue with minimal options for removal limits their clinical translation. To address this shortcoming, biocompatible UCNPs implants are developed to deliver upconversion photonic properties in a flexible, optical guide design. To enhance its translatability, the UCNPs implant is constructed with an FDA‐approved poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) core clad with fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP). The emission spectrum of the UCNPs implant can be tuned to overlap with the absorption spectra of the clinically relevant photosensitizer, 5‐aminolevulinic acid (5‐ALA). The UCNPs implant can wirelessly transmit upconverted visible light till 8 cm in length and in a bendable manner even when implanted underneath the skin or scalp. With this system, it is demonstrated that NIR‐based chronic PDT is achievable in an untethered and noninvasive manner in a mouse xenograft glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) model. It is postulated that such encapsulated UCNPs implants represent a translational shift for wireless deep‐tissue phototherapy by enabling sequestration of UCNPs without compromising wireless deep‐tissue light delivery.